Vintage Circus Acts

Historical images of clowns, puppetry, and circus performers, highlighting the charm of vintage entertainment.

Vintage photograph. Portrait of clown wearing silly hat

Boy with egg and rabbit, 1930s, Young pantomime with top hat presents a rabbit with magic wand and egg, historical photo

The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and based on the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Braum. Starring Judy Garland and Ray Bolger it featured what could be the most elaborate use of make up and special effects in a film at that time. It was not a box office hit at first in terms of earnings but the following years more than made up for it.

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (1929), directed by LUCIEN HUBBARD.

Santough. Stage Beauty Salon, Gene O. Taffet. 1024-A Beacon St., Brookline , Beauty shops, Hair dryers, Spouses. Leon Abdalian Collection

ORSON WELLES in THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (1947), directed by ORSON WELLES.

APRIL FOOL'S DAY (EV001681_H)

Anefo photo collection. The Rika Jansen One Woman Show in Rembrandttheater, Rika Jansen in her show. July 17, 1964

Theo Zacchini. March 28, 1951.

Mel Ward. December 06, 1950.

Hostess at a masked cocktail party Mrs. Hans Tronser (left), with Mrs. Marcel Dekyvere. The party was in aid of the Venetian Masked Ball at Prince's on April 29. April 14, 1953.

Exhibit. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

BORIS KARLOFF in THE DEVIL COMMANDS (1941), directed by EDWARD DMYTRYK.

JACQUES TATI in MR. HULOT'S HOLIDAY (1953) -Original title: LES VACANCES DE MONSIEUR HULOT-, directed by JACQUES TATI.

.... You like it, eh Fixing the pants now". September 08, 1953. (Photo by Laurie Richards).

BABY LEROY and W. C. FIELDS in DAVID COPPERFIELD (1935) -Original title: PERSONAL HISTORY, ADVENTURES, EXPERIENCE, & OBSERVATION OF DAVID COPPERFIELD THE YOUNGER, THE-, directed by GEORGE CUKOR.

Robbie the Robot. From MGM film 'Forbidden Planet', 1956.

AUDREY HEPBURN and GREGORY PECK in ROMAN HOLIDAY (1953), directed by WILLIAM WYLER.

12/31/1929. Walt Disney smiles next to his great creation, Mikey Mouse, who is posing on a mountain of cards. The famous Mouse received an average of 10,000 letters a week, from all over the globe.

10/14/1926. Madrid. At the Chueca theater. A Scene from the Humorada of Feliu y Plaza, music by maestro Belda, "for Brave, Love".

GARY COOPER in ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1933), directed by NORMAN Z. MCLEOD.

Vintage photograph. Male and female puppets having a private conversation

Puppet Series. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Film scene with boy training dog

MARIO MORENO "CANTINFLAS" and DAVID NIVEN in AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (1956) -Original title: AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS-, directed by MICHAEL ANDERSON.

BOBBY DRISCOLL in THE WINDOW (1949), directed by TED TETZLAFF.

Three men at a surrealistic artwork in the Robert gallery; Demonstration with three men's surredism tent. GAL. Robert, Amsterdam 1938..

Musician 1739-40 Meissen Manufactory German. Musician 203095

Santa on accordion (OV2019_384)

LOUIS DE FUNES and MICHEL GALABRU in THE GENDARME TAKES OFF (1970) -Original title: LE GENDARME EN BALADE-, directed by JEAN GIRAULT.

Grandma dances with blindfolded eyes, ca. 1970s, exact place unknown, France, Europe

Michael Bentine: Comedian.The audience didn't do this, it's a part of Bentine's act. November 2, 1955.

BELA LUGOSI in THE APE MAN (1943), directed by WILLIAM BEAUDINE.

"Tropic Holiday," with Dorothy Lamour, Bob Burns, Martha Raye, Ray Milland, Binnie Barnes and Tito Guizar. Directed by Theodore Reed. A Paramount Picture.Feeling the coll of culture, American film comic Martha Raye decided this week to see "Hamlet" at the Leicester Square Odeon.To grapple with Shakespeare she lipsticked her fabulous set of furs, and Swept into the street outside her hotel only to find the doorman couldn't get her a taxi.As the clock moved relentlessly on, Miss Raye reached a masterly decision.She hitched up her evening gown, ranout into the street, and stopped a passing pastrycook's van coming home from a late round of deliveries. September 27, 1938.

Anefo photo collection. Play 'A lady from the province of Ivan Touring for Vara TV. ... in a scene. February 25, 1970

Anefo photo collection. In Paris, Epiphany is celebrated with an attack on the three-kings cake. January 7, 1957. France, Paris

BERT LAHR, JACK HALEY, JUDY GARLAND and RAY BOLGER in THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939), directed by VICTOR FLEMING.

Anefo photo collection. His excellence Sharif Padmadisastra exhibition Bali opened, during the opening a group of Balinese dancers entered up. November 6, 1964. Bali

MAN OVERBOARD (EV002005_H)

Clarabel, Tv's ""howdy doody"" clown, treating girl to wad of cotton candy on carouse at Patisades Park, 1951

The "Peter Pan" Party held at Claridge's hotel, London, Jan. 11th., in aid of Dr. Barnardo's Homes, at which the Marchioness of Cambridge was hostess. An amusing tableau by two if the little prize winners. Mary Louise Benson Greenall as "Liza" is reproved for having a smut on her nose by Virginia Hutchison. February 27, 1934. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).

CHARLIE CHAPLIN in MODERN TIMES (1936), directed by CHARLIE CHAPLIN.

Performance of three gentlemen. Surrealism tent. Bile. Robert, Amsterdam 1938, Lilly Samuel, 1938 photograph photographic support gelatin silver print

Demonstration of three gentlemen with antler and painting during the opening of the exhibition in Galerie Robert in Amsterdam 1938 Exposition international du surrealism.

The Wizard of Oz a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and the most well-known and commercial adaptation based on the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. The film stars Judy Garland;

JERRY LEWIS in WAY... WAY OUT (1966), directed by GORDON DOUGLAS.

Statue of clown Otto Griebling

ANITA LOUISE in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (1935), directed by MAX REINHARDT.

Anefo photo collection. View day and auction of the decors, costumes etc. from the TV series "ti ta wizard". Child looks at "grobbed sholls". 26 February 1974

Anefo photo collection. TV program "One of the eight" by Mies Bouwman. November 22, 1969

Library Room Has Everything.A president of the United States gets a tremendous variety of Presents every day of the year, and FDR is known to all as a president with a passion for collecting. So the Oddities Room of his new library on his hyde park estate has just about everything from autographed baseballs to glass canes. Also known for his keen appreciation of Jokes on himself, the president if particularly fond of the caricature of himself with cigarette holder made from Pulp. June 27, 1941. (Photo by Acme).

Anefo photo collection. Carnival (ready ..... over) in Den Bosch. March 2, 1962. Den Bosch

asia, malesia, coltura del riso a sabah, 1965

Santa Claus with doll carriage ca. 1930, exact place unknown, Germany, Europe

Anefo photo collection. Cartoon characters Amsterdam newspapers on Dam Square. August 9, 1962. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

American actors Adam West (William West Anderson) and Burt Ward (Bert Gervis Jr.) wearing the costumes of the comics superheroes Batman and Robin and acting in the TV serie Batman. 1966. Batman, 1966, directed by Robert Butler, USA, TV serial, with Adam West, Burt Ward, ABC

Anefo photo collection. Mieke Bos in your own show for NCRV TV, number 26 mieke Bos (head). December 19, 1966

Circus Thrills Keep The Taylor Quads Wide-Eyed D/Vanha:The Taylor quads, left to right: Robert, Kevin, Paul, and Annette, divide their attention between chocolate ices and the thrills of the trapeze artists at the Harringay Circus today.Today was a thrilling day for the Taylor quads from Edmonton. With their mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor they went to see Tom Arnold's Circus at Harringay, where they sat in wonderment, enjoying all the thrills and laughs of the 'Big Top'. Before the show they went behind the scenes and met some of the performers. Quads: England's famous Taylor quadruplets see a circus for the first time at Harringay,London. January 07, 1952. (Photo by Fox Photos).

CLARA BOW in DANGEROUS CURVES (1929), directed by LOTHAR MENDES.

Steve McQueen, The Sand Pebbles, 1966 directed by Robert Wise (Twentieth Century Fox)

Happy Easter!

Anefo photo collection. Holland Festival (execution by the Dutch Opera of "ïl Ritorno d'Ulysse in Patria" by Claudio Montiverdi), Chris Reumer. June 14, 1962. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Hullo Where did you come fromGrandpa in festive mood greets a fresh arrival. January 21, 1935. (Photo by Universal Pictorial Press).

LON CHANEY in THE UNHOLY THREE (1930), directed by JACK CONWAY.

CLARA BOW in IT (1927), directed by CLARENCE G. BADGER.

Comic actress Fanny Brice performed in a very popular radio comedy series, THE BABY SNOOKS SHOW. Here she is photographed in character with a crying facial expression, c. 1945-50 (BSLOC_2018_3_13)

INTERNATIONAL RESCUE-TV (1965) -Original title: THUNDERBIRDS-.

CECIL B DEMILLE in THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956), directed by CECIL B DEMILLE.

CHARLOTTE RAMPLING in MAX MY LOVE (1986) -Original title: MAX, MON AMOUR-, directed by NAGISA OSHIMA.

BBC test card

Two women and one man in a costume playing table tennis (EV006964_H)

DORIS DAY in BILLY ROSE'S JUMBO (1962), directed by CHARLES WALTERS.

Anefo photo collection. Farewell concert by Grew Brouwenstijn with Concertgebouw Orchestra in Rai Amsterdam. 25 June 1971. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

High angle view of group of spectators sitting in a movie theater wearing 3-D glasses

Anefo photo collection. Rehearsals for Circus Strassburger in Carre, Dressage of the elephant number. December 22, 1959

Anefo photo collection. Max Tailleur again in the deaf pot. October 17, 1962

Anefo photo collection. Performance of the Viennese ice revue in the Expohal in Hilversum. February 20, 1961. Hilversum

MARIONETAS MEXICANAS. Location: MUSEO DE MARIONETAS. MUNICH. DEUTSCHLAND.

Anefo photo collection. Giant on motorcycle (from the circus) at the new RAI. December 15, 1961

BARBARA EDEN in THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM (1962), directed by HENRY LEVIN.

High angle view of a group of spectators sitting in a movie theater wearing 3-D glasses

OLIVER HARDY, STAN LAUREL and LAWRENCE TIBBETT in THE ROGUE SONG (1930), directed by LIONEL BARRYMORE.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey Circus clown Jackie Le Claire presents a gift for Caroline Kennedy (CBK), with David Polland and Hortense Burton (John J. McNally). Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey Circus clown, Jackie LeClaire, presents a toy stuffed giraffe as a gift for Caroline Kennedy. Hortense Burton, Chief of the Correspondence Pool in the Social Entertainments Office, stands at left. East Wing Lobby, White House, Washington, D.C.

Anefo photo collection. Van Oekel Show Van VPRO; Sjefke van Oekel under Christmas tree. December 5, 1974

CANTINFLAS in DROP THE CURTAIN (1955) -Original title: ABAJO EL TELÓN-, directed by MIGUEL M. DELGADO.

Anefo photo collection. NOS records the "Gerard Reveshow". Gerard Reve is grinning for his head. March 12, 1974

Child plays violin and sings, England, Great Britain

FRANK SINATRA in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953), directed by FRED ZINNEMANN.

PIER ANGELI and DANNY KAYE in MERRY ANDREW (1958), directed by MICHAEL KIDD.

Group of people in a theater wearing 3-D glasses

JESSLYN FAX in REAR WINDOW (1954), directed by ALFRED HITCHCOCK.

1940S 1950S Little In Yellow Dress Girl Riding Carousel Horse On Merry-Go-Round

LESLIE CARON in LILI (1953), directed by CHARLES WALTERS.

HUGH MARLOWE in EARTH VS THE FLYING SAUCERS (1956), directed by FRED F. SEARS.

ALFRED HITCHCOCK in ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS (1955), directed by ALFRED HITCHCOCK.

Your days are numbered (EV007461_H)

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